Any automobile has tens of thousands of parts required to work together to ensure safe operation and proper functioning of the vehicle. When one or more of these parts do not perform their job correctly, the whole system could fail resulting in an accident, the driver losing control, fire hazards, and more dangers. When defective car parts are the cause of a car accident it may be difficult to determine who is liable for the resulting damages. Work with a Hartford County motor vehicle accident attorney in the aftermath of your crash to ensure your legal rights are protected.
Examples of Car Part Defects
Every driver hopes that their car drives smoothly and easily from point A to point B. However, defects are bound to happen at one point or another whether due to quality control issues, poor design, or a fluke malfunction.
Some common defects that can occur in motor vehicles include the following.
- Steering system failure
- Airbags deploying without reason
- Airbags failing to deploy
- Broken seatbelt latch
- Seatbelt failing to tighten
- Fuel system failure
- Accelerator malfunctioning or sticking
- Brake failure
Any part of a vehicle can malfunction or be defective, but these are some of the most common. When faulty parts cause a crash there is generally nothing that the driver can do to prevent a collision, so liability must fall on someone else.
Who is Liable for the Damages Resulting from an Accident Caused By Defective Parts?
Because the responsibility for an accident caused by defective parts cannot fairly be placed on the driver’s shoulders, it is important that the negligent party be identified and held accountable. An investigation must be launched to determine what part of the car malfunctioned and trace back where the defect came about.
If there was an issue with the design of the product, like an inherent flaw that would prevent it from working properly regardless of installation or use, the manufacturer can be held liable. Even if the design was flawless, if there was some issue with production in that it was not built according to plan or a batch of product was installed wrong, liability will fall on the manufacturer.
The distributor of the product could also be held responsible if the issue arose under their watch. Any mishandling of the item or modifications made could have caused the vehicle to malfunction. If the distributor caught an issue and knowingly continued to distribute the product they will also face repercussions for their negligence.
A car dealership could also face liability. By selling vehicles with faulty parts it proves their negligence or lack of quality control. Mechanics who worked on the vehicle or installed defective parts can also take a portion of the blame.
Generally, any individual or company who had a hand in the production or distribution of the vehicle could face liability. It is important that an extensive investigation is launched into the records and safety procedures of each entity to determine when the product became defective and who should be responsible for paying damages and compensation. Reach out to a skilled attorney for more information and representation.
